Bottom Line: The Huawei Watch 2 features excellent fitness tracking capabilities and is the strongest showcase for Android Wear 2.0 we've seen so far, but that still doesn't make it a perfect smartwatch....

Alex ColonThe Best Smartwatches of 2018Think it's time to upgrade your traditional watch by adding some apps and notifications to your wrist? Here are the features to look for, along with the top-rated smartwatches we've tested.

Watch Out

The infamouscalculator watchhas been around since the 1970s, but smartwatches have finally reached the point that they're, well, smart. And now that the Apple Watch has catapulted the category into the mainstream, smartwatches are no longer accessories associated primarily with tech geeks. From running apps, to displaying smartphone notifications, to monitoring your heart rate, the latest crop of smartwatches do a lot more than just tell time. Since Pebble is out of the picture, which one should you buy? We've rounded up our top-rated options to help you decide. It's also important to know what to look for, so keep the following advice in mind when shopping around.

Device Compatibility

Naturally, the first thing you'll want to consider when buying a smartwatch is compatibility. Most of the devices currently available use Android Wear, Google's operating system designed for wearables; Android Wear supports iOS, but these are still very much Android-centric devices (make sure to look for a watch that supports Android Wear 2.0, the latest version of the OS). The Apple Watch, as you'd expect, connects strictly to iOS-powered devices, so it's iPhone-only. Make sure to pick a watch that's compatible with the mobile device you own. Unfortunately, there aren't any watches we recommend that support BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices.

Apps

What separates a smart watch from a dumb watch? Lots of things, but as smartphones have taught us, apps might be the most important.

Most of the watches we like feature full-fledged app stores, bringing everything from Uber and Yelp to—yes, a calculator—to your wrist. Much like smartphones, app availability is a good way to determine which product to get, so make sure to check out the app selection for each watch before buying in.

And if you're looking for apps, right now Apple is your best bet. The Apple Watch has the largest number of high-quality apps and big-name developers, by far. Android Wear also has it fair share, but developer interest definitely seems to be in Apple first. Samsung's homegrown Tizen OS doesn't seem to be on the radar for most developers, and the kid-friendly LG GizmoGadget is more about messaging than apps.

Fitness

Unless you want a gadget on both of your wrists (not the best look, in my opinion), you'll want a smartwatch that can do double-duty as a fitness tracker—or any other wearable gadget you were thinking about getting. Most smartwatches are capable of tracking basic activity, like steps, but you need to pay close attention to any additional features.

The Apple Watch Series 3 and Nike+ edition, for instance, feature built-in GPS, so they can track your runs without the help of a companion device. They also have heart rate sensors. The Fitbit Ionic tracks more advanced fitness metrics than the competition, but has less in the way of third-party apps, so there's some trade-off.

Look closely and choose a watch that tracks the activities you want to monitor.

Cellular Connectivity

Now that Apple has added a cellular model to its Series 3 lineup, you might be wondering if cellular connectivity is something you actually need. Basically, it allows you to make calls, send texts, stream music, download apps, and do anything else that requires an internet connection, without actually needing to be connected to your phone.

The cellular Series 3 carries a $70 premium over the standard version, and you also have to pay to add it to your phone plan—most carriers charge an additional $10 per month. Whether this convenience is worth it for you depends on what you plan to use your watch for. If you want to be able to stream music while you exercise, but you want to leave your phone back in the locker room or at home, a cellular connection can certainly come in handy. If you always have your phone on you, however, you can probably save the money and skip it.

Battery Life

You don't want a smartwatch with good battery life, right? Good, because you're not going to get it. Watches with full-color, smartphone-like displays, like the Apple Watch and Android Wear watches, only last for about a day on a single charge. Like your phone, you're going to want to throw them on a charger every night before you go to bed. And most of the watches that fall into this category feature screens that turn off after just a few seconds. In order to check the time, you either need trigger the display with a physical button or a gesture like holding it up to your face.

Price

Smartwatches can be very expensive, but that doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money to get a good one. Yes, the ceramic Apple Watch Edition is sure to draw a lot of attention, but at $1,299 (and up), you can buy a couple of new iPhones. Even the base model Series 3 costs $329, placing it among the more expensive smartwatches we recommend. If you're a first-time smartwatch buyer, you might want to think about going the less-expensive route, in case you wind up not wearing it all that much.

The Best Android Watch

There are more Android Wear watches on the market than any other kind, yet a glance at the chart above shows our highest-rated Android model scores just 3.5 stars. We also don't have an Editors' Choice in the Android Wear category. That isn't to say Android watches aren't good—depending on your needs, you can get one that does everything you need for half the price of an Apple Watch. But pay close attention to the reviews, because not all Android Wear watches are created equal.

As mentioned above, make sure to look for a watch that runs Android Wear 2.0. It's the latest version of the operating system, and a significant improvement over the original that makes operation more intuitive. Aside from that, it's pretty much about finding the features you want at a price you can afford. Our current favorite model, the Huawei Watch 2, offers continuous heart monitoring, built-in GPS, and above-average battery life.

There are also far more styles to choose from. If you buy an Apple Watch, you're limited to a selection of proprietary bands if you want to swap out the original for a customized look. Many Android watches support standard watch straps, making your options virtually limitless. Not only that, but the selection of watches themselves is far more diverse than the one-design-fits-all Apple Watch. Want a sporty design? Check out the LG Watch Sport. Prefer to go the traditional route? Look to the Asus ZenWatch 3.

So while Android Wear still lags behind the Apple Watch in terms of simplicity and app selection, it's far more versatile in terms of pricing and features.

Buy It for Looks, Don't Buy It for Life

Let's not forget: You're also going to wear this thing. And unlike your Timex, it's probably not going to remain in style for years. Smartwatch design is rapidly changing, so hold out until you find something you actually want to wear. And keep in mind that smartwatches are still gadgets. The coming year is sure to bring new iterations of pretty much every watch on this list, not to mention plenty of completely new ones.

The battle for wrist real estate is quickly heating up. That's good news for consumers, since it's likely to result in even better—and better-looking—devices. I wouldn't be surprised if this list reads completely differently the next time you see it. But if you're looking for the best smartwatch available today, the options here are the finest we've seen so far. For the latest reviews, see our Smartwatch Product Guide.

Bottom Line: The Huawei Watch 2 features excellent fitness tracking capabilities and is the strongest showcase for Android Wear 2.0 we've seen so far, but that still doesn't make it a perfect smartwatch....

About the Author

Alex Colon is the managing editor of PCMag's consumer electronics team. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in English Writing and Literature from Pace University and got his start editing books before deciding technology would probably be a lot more fun.
Though he does the majority of his reading and writing on various digital displays, Alex still l... See Full Bio

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